What You Need To Learn About Using Social Media For Business

And preferably before your next social post

I started using Twitter for my business in late 2015 and more recently Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. And there are a few things you do need to learn when you’re using social media for business. And specifically, if you’re a solopreneur.

Some of the things I’ve learned are specific to each social network and others are generic.

Tips for using social media for business

If you’re struggling to make social marketing work, read these tips. Preferably before your next post.

General tips

1. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Pick one channel and do it well. Then go from there.

2. Pick your platform based on your target market demographics and which social networks they’re using. This post from Sprout Social on social media demographics is well worth reading.

3. Select a primary platform that you’re going to focus on first. And make a decision based on what you’re business is about.

17. When you write a blog, write 5 different social sharing headlines. Use different images to promote your blog post. Schedule these in for the different platforms you use. And at different times over the month.

18. Ensure consistency in brand across platforms. The same image, same branding for your created content. People will come to recognise your posts by the colours and logo that you use.

19. If you’re a solopreneur use a photo of yourself as your profile image rather than a logo. And not one of you on holiday sipping a cocktail by the pool.

20. Don’t fill your social bios with hashtags.

21. Watch what others are doing and how they engage. How often do they post?

Twitter tips

22. Frequent posting is the key. Remember, a Tweet only has a short lifespan. So if you think all your followers have probably seen that tweet about your latest blog, think again.

23. Use Twitter lists to manage your followers. Create a list of people that tweet about a certain topic, or those in your city.

24. Don’t feel you have to view all of your followers’ posts. It’s impossible.

Instagram

25. Highly visual, Instagram seems to make everyone’s images look like they were professionally taken. The emphasis is on a picture that grabs attention and less on the words.

26. It’s okay to use more than 2 hashtags.

27. Use location to your advantage. Tag your post with a location. It’s a great way to connect with local people and businesses.

28. Instagram can be used effectively to engage with your customers.

29. Show a bit of personality.

For me, Twitter is about producing written content that’s valuable to others. Instagram on the other hand is about showing some personality. Letting people in on who I am and what I do in my spare time.

30. Like and share other people’s photos. Comment too. Short and sweet is good.

Pinterest

31. Pinterest, think pin board or cork board and pinning a note on it for others to read. It stays there too.

32. Don’t get scared off by the fact that everyone looks like they’ve been to graphic design school.

33. Pinterest users use infographics to display their content.

34. Pins have a long lifespan. You may have pinned something a few years ago and it is still there on the board it was pinned to.

35. People can even invite you to pin on their board. And when they pin something of yours on their board it gets so much more reach.

36. If your target market is female, Pinterest is a place to find them.

Facebook

I’ll admit I’ve not put much time into my Facebook business page. It’s something I need to get on top of. But here are some tips I’ve learned from others.

things you want to share such as links to another article that you found online

links to a useful course

anything you feel your readers would get value from

40. Join some Facebook groups. They’re a way of asking questions in a small group that you don’t want to ask publicly. Facebook groups are like little communities of like-minded people. Remember to always read the pinned post with the group rules first. It’s not okay to spruik your wares.

41. Consider starting a Facebook group. They’re a great way to build trust and rapport with a specific target market of yours. Help your group members and gain their trust, and let them get to know you a bit better.

LinkedIn

42. LinkedIn is a professional networking tool so I wouldn’t be posting images of your pets.

43. Make sure your bio reflects your current work situation.

44. Strike up a conversation on people’s posts. LinkedIn posts generally link to articles of some description. Make a comment on what you’ve read.

45. You can like or comment a few times a day but remember it’s not Twitter.

There are many more social networks, like Google+, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit that I haven’t covered or used extensively.

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“Kelly O’Donnell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”